中英文本

Americans' Home
美国人的家
Americans like their homes to reflect their personal tastes. Many do-it-yourselfers enjoy fixing up their house and making it more "livable". They often try to create a eozy atmospehre so that when they're at home, they'll really feel "at home".
美国人喜欢让家反映出他们个人的品味。许多喜欢自己动手做的人沉醉于修补他们的房子并让它更“适于居住”。他们常试着营造一个温暖而舒适的气氛，这样当他们待在家时，会真的感觉到“毫无拘束”。
Sofas and lounge chairs may be heavily padded and arranged in groupings conducive to relaxed conversation. The bathroom even receives special attention. Carpeted floors, scented soaps, colorful wallpaper and decorative curtains adorn the "comfort room" in many homes.
沙发及安乐椅可能会被铺上厚厚的垫子，并运用不同空间组合的摆设，让坐着的人可以轻松地谈话。甚至连浴室也破费心思：铺有地毯的地板、香气四溢的肥皂、彩色的壁纸及装饰窗帘，如此就打扮出了许多家庭的“舒服之地”。
And on average, Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.
平均来说，美国人拥有的浴室比世界上其他的人都多。

Lisa Marie Odegard, an interior designer in Bozeman, Montana, comments that "a home is a haven. People want an open, easy feeling to make their homes comfortable". For that reason, many new homes now have big, open kitchens and vaulted ceilings.
蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室内设计师丽莎·玛丽·德加德谈到：“家是一个避难所。人们想要一个开放、轻松的感觉来让他们的家变得很舒适。”因为这个原因，现在许多新房子都有大而开放的厨房以及拱形的屋顶。
Americans try to make the most of their space, too. The majority of homes have built-in closets and shelves, and people spare no pains to add dressers, filing cabinets and closet organizers to maximize their storage space. Although keeping the house neat is often a constant battle, Americans feel it's a battle worth fighting.
美国人也试着将空间做最佳的利用。大多数的家庭都有壁橱以及架子，人们也不辞辛劳地添加橱柜、文件柜以及壁柜分隔架来加大储藏空间。虽然让房子维持整洁像是一场永无止境的长期战役，美国人觉得这是一个值得打下去的战役。
People in America keep an eye on the latest trends in interior design. In the 80s, the "country" look dominated the home decorating scene. Rustic furniture and shelves full of old-fashioned knick-knacks created a homey atmosphere reminscent of rural America several generations back .
美国人也会注意室内设计的最新时尚。20世纪80年代，“乡村”风貌主导了家庭装潢；摆满旧式风格的小摆设的质朴家具及架子，创造出一种会令人想起几世纪以前以农业为主的美国之家庭气氛。
The 90s have brought in another longing for the past: the retro 50s and 60s look - plain and simple furniture with square backs and arms and block-style legs.
90年代又带入另一个怀旧情愫：回溯到50及60年代风貌——有四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌脚的朴素、简单的家具。

重点讲解

1.personal taste 个人品味；个人喜好

例句：The look and behavior of a product should reflect how it is used, rather than the personal taste of its designers.
产品的外观和行为应该反应产品将如何被使用，而不是设计者的个人喜好。

2.fix up 修补；安排

例句：I think we can fix up with what you want.
我想我们能安排好你需要的东西。
3.on average 平均的；均衡的

例句：Factory inspector cost on average &25, 000 per head per annum.
工厂检查员平均每人每年花费25，000英镑。

4.built-in 内置的；内部设定的

例句：If you find the built-in mouse awkward, get an external mouse or keypad and set it close to the keyboard.
如果你觉得内置的鼠标不舒服的话，可以配一个外接鼠标或是袖珍键盘放在键盘旁边。